Overview

This report provides exploratory and preliminary correlation analyses between sex hormones and T2 final hippocampal subfield volume data from the Healthy Aging Study sample that have completed the spatial navigation study.

Cleaning data steps included (T2 subfields):

  1. Filter participants that have useable T2 subfield data from scan and completed spatial navigation behavior

  2. Select sex hormone measures from when spatial study was conducted

  3. Values were already averaged together (left and right) and already corrected with TIV

Calculating Total Hippocampal Volume:

  • Sum up the averaged CA1, CA23, DG, SUB to get T2 total hippocampal volumes

Calculating Total MTL:

  • Sum up the averaged CA1, CA23, DG, SUB, ERC, PHC, PRC to get MTL volume
Sample size and age for women and men grouped by overall completion of spatial navigation behavior with T2hipp scan.
Overall
LOOP
MAZE
DSP
Sex n Mean Age SD Age n Mean Age SD Age n Mean Age SD Age n Mean Age SD Age
Female 55 50.49 3.37 15 50.27 3.26 45 50.07 3.17 32 50.28 3.05
Male 22 49.95 3.39 11 49.18 2.93 14 49.71 3.52 19 49.74 3.33

Above table shows the table of sample size and mean and standard deviation of age by sex for overall group who have completed spatial behavior and have a useable T2hipp scan.

For women, 60 had T2 hipp scan completed and completed an aspect of spatial navigation task but 5 were removed due to poor quality scans. For men, 25 had T2 hipp scan completed and completed an aspect of spatial navigation task but 3 were removed for poor quality scans. Thus n = 55 for women and n = 22 for men.

All sample size for T2hipp x hormone correlations for women are listed in the table above. For men, because some participants did not have all hormones evaluated (e.g, only testosterone available), the sample size for the correlations for that hormone and with T1 hipp volume will be different.

For men, the accurate sample sizes would be:

  • LOOP: n = 10 DHEAS, n = 11 for SHBG and T

  • MAZE: n = 13 DHEAS, n = 14 for SHBG and T

  • DSP: n = 18 DHEAS, n = 19 for SHBG and T

Structural Distributions

Structure: Shapiro-Wilk’s test reveal that total hipp and MTL volumes were normally distributed.

Subfields: Shapiro-Wilk’s test reveal that CA1 for overall and women, and PHC for women volumes were not normally distributed. Hormone and subfield/volume associations for these subfields will be using Spearman rank correlations.

Hormone Distributions

Shapiro-Wilk tests reveal that all six hormones violated normality in the overall and women group. Most hormones for women subgroup distributions were still significantly different from normal after log transformation, so Spearman rank correlations will be applied to these hormone and subfield and structure associations. For men, only SHBG violated normality so all subfield and structure correlations with this hormone in men will be spearman rank.

Behavioral Distributions

Shapiro-Wilk’s test reveal that MAZE accuracy for all and MAZE moves for overall, women groups were not normally distributed. DSP solution index for overall and women were also not normally distributed. Behavior and volume correlations will be Spearman rank

Total Hippocampal Volume

Structural Comparison

Sample size and means for subjects by reproductive status with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Reproductive Status n Mean Total Hipp Volume SD Total Hipp Volume
Pre 22 1.18 0.14
Peri 18 1.16 0.13
Post 15 1.17 0.14
Sample size and means for subjects by sex with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Sex n Mean Total Hipp Volume SD Total Hipp Volume
Female 55 1.17 0.14
Male 22 1.16 0.17

Means and standard deviations of total hipp are displayed by reproductive status and by sex.

ANOVA results comparing T2 hipp GMV by reproductive status was not significant.

T-test results comparing GMV by sex was not significant.

Hormone Correlation by Reproductive Status

All correlations are Spearman.

Hormone Correlation by Men

All correlations are Pearson except for SHBG (Spearman)

Behavioral Correlations

LOOP

Position Error

All correlations are Pearson

Degrees Traveled

All correlations are Pearson

MAZE

Accuracy

All correlations are Spearman.

Moves

All Spearman correlations except for men (Pearson).

DSP

Wayfinding Success

All correlations were Pearson

Solution Index

All correlations were Spearman except for men (Pearson).

MTL

Structural Comparison

Sample size and means for subjects by reproductive status with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Reproductive Status n Mean MTL Volume SD MTL Volume
Pre 22 4.97 0.50
Peri 18 4.73 0.54
Post 15 4.90 0.54
Sample size and means for subjects by sex with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Sex n Mean MTL Volume SD MTL Volume
Female 55 4.87 0.53
Male 22 4.68 0.62

Means and standard deviations of MTL are displayed by reproductive status and by sex.

ANOVA results comparing MTL by reproductive status was not significant.

T-test results comparing MTL by sex was not significant.

Hormone Correlation by Reproductive Status

All correlations are Spearman.

Hormone Correlation by Men

All correlations are Pearson except SHBG (Spearman)

Behavioral Correlations

LOOP

Position Error

All correlations are Pearson

Degrees Traveled

All correlations are Pearson

MAZE

Accuracy

All correlations are Spearman

Moves

All correlations are Spearman except for men (Pearson)

DSP

Wayfinding Success

All correlations are Pearson

Solution Index

All correlations were Spearman except for men (Pearson)

T2 Subfield Volume

CA1

Structural Comparison

Sample size and means for subjects by reproductive status with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Reproductive Status n Mean CA1 Volume SD CA1 Volume
Pre 22 0.43 0.05
Peri 18 0.43 0.05
Post 15 0.43 0.05
Sample size and means for subjects by sex status with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Sex n Mean CA1 Volume SD CA1 Volume
Female 55 0.43 0.05
Male 22 0.42 0.06

Means and standard deviations of the subfield are displayed by reproductive status and by sex

ANOVA results comparing CA1 subfield by reproductive status was not significant.

T-test results comparing CA1 subfield by sex was not significant.

Hormone Correlation by Reproductive Status

All correlations are Spearman.

Hormone Correlation by Men

Correlations are all Pearson except SHBG (Spearman)

Behavioral Correlations

LOOP

Position Error

All correlations were Spearman except for men (Pearson)

Degrees Traveled

All correlations were Spearman except for men (Pearson)

MAZE

Accuracy

All correlations were Spearman

Moves

All correlations were Spearman except for men (Pearson)

DSP

Wayfinding Success

All correlations were Spearman except for men (Pearson)

Solution Index

All correlations were Spearman except for men (Pearson)

CA2/3

Structural Comparison

Sample size and means for subjects by reproductive status with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Reproductive Status n Mean CA23 Volume SD CA23 Volume
Pre 22 0.15 0.03
Peri 18 0.14 0.02
Post 15 0.15 0.02
Sample size and means for subjects by sex with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Sex n Mean CA23 Volume SD CA23 Volume
Female 55 0.14 0.02
Male 22 0.14 0.02

Means and standard deviations of the subfield are displayed by reproductive status and by sex

ANOVA results comparing CA23 subfield by reproductive status was not significant.

T-test results comparing CA23 subfield by sex was not significant.

Hormone Correlation by Reproductive Status

All correlations were Spearman

Hormone Correlation by Men

All correlations are Pearson except SHBG (Spearman)

Behavioral Correlations

LOOP

Position Error

All correlations are Pearson

Degrees Traveled

All correlations are Pearson

MAZE

Accuracy

All correlations are Pearson

Moves

All correlations are Spearman except for men (Pearson)

DSP

Wayfinding Success

All correlations are Pearson

Solution Index

All correlations are Spearman except for men (Pearson)

DG

Structural Comparison

Sample size and means for subjects by reproductive status with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Reproductive Status n Mean DG Volume SD DG Volume
Pre 22 0.37 0.05
Peri 18 0.36 0.05
Post 15 0.37 0.06
Sample size and means for subjects by sex with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Sex n Mean DG Volume SD DG Volume
Female 55 0.37 0.05
Male 22 0.38 0.08

Means and standard deviations of the subfield are displayed by reproductive status and by sex

ANOVA results comparing DG subfield by reproductive status was not significant.

T-test results comparing DG subfield by sex was not significant.

Hormone Correlation by Reproductive Status

All correlations are Spearman

Hormone Correlation by Men

All correlations are Pearson except SHBG (Spearman)

Behavioral Correlations

LOOP

Position Error

All correlations were Pearson

Degrees Traveled

All correlations were Pearson

MAZE

Accuracy

All correlations were Spearman

Moves

All correlations were Spearman except for men (Pearson)

DSP

Wayfinding Success

All correlations were Pearson

Solution Index

All correlations were Spearman except for men (Pearson)

ERC

Structural Comparison

Sample size and means for subjects by reproductive status with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Reproductive Status n Mean ERC Volume SD ERC Volume
Pre 22 0.71 0.19
Peri 18 0.65 0.15
Post 15 0.66 0.11
Sample size and means for subjects by sex with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Sex n Mean ERC Volume SD ERC Volume
Female 55 0.68 0.16
Male 22 0.60 0.12

Means and standard deviations of the subfield are displayed by reproductive status and by sex

ANOVA results comparing ERC subfield by reproductive status was not significant.

T-test results comparing ERC subfield by sex was significant. Women (M = 0.678) have larger ERC volume than men (M = 0.601) (t = 2.393, df = 52.818, p = 0.02).

Hormone Correlation by Reproductive Status

All correlations are Spearman.

Hormone Correlation by Men

All correlations are Pearson except SHBG (Spearman)

Behavioral Correlations

LOOP

Position Error

All correlations were Pearson

Degrees Traveled

All correlations were Pearson

MAZE

Accuracy

All correlations were Spearman

Moves

All correlations were Spearman except for men (Pearson)

DSP

Wayfinding Success

All correlations are Pearson

Solution Index

All correlations were Spearman except for men (Pearson)

PHC

Structural Comparison

Sample size and means for subjects by reproductive status with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Reproductive Status n Mean PHC Volume SD PHC Volume
Pre 22 1.61 0.23
Peri 18 1.56 0.16
Post 15 1.57 0.22
Sample size and means for subjects by sex with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Sex n Mean PHC Volume SD PHC Volume
Female 55 1.58 0.21
Male 22 1.50 0.24

Means and standard deviations of the subfield are displayed by reproductive status and by sex

ANOVA results comparing PHC subfield by reproductive status was not significant.

T-test results comparing PHC subfield by sex was not significant.

Hormone Correlation by Reproductive Status

All correlations are Spearman

Hormone Correlation by Men

All correlations are Pearson except SHBG (Spearman)

Behavioral Correlations

LOOP

Position Error

Overall and male correlations were Pearson, female and repo groups were Spearman.

Degrees Traveled

Overall and male correlations were Pearson, female and repo groups were Spearman.

MAZE

Accuracy

All correlations were Spearman

Moves

All correlations were Spearman except for men (Pearson)

DSP

Wayfinding Success

Overall and male correlations were Pearson, female and repo groups were Spearman.

Solution Index

All correlations were Spearman except for men (Pearson)

PRC

Structural Comparison

Sample size and means for subjects by reproductive status with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Reproductive Status n Mean PRC Volume SD PRC Volume
Pre 22 1.47 0.26
Peri 18 1.37 0.28
Post 15 1.49 0.26
Sample size and means for subjects by sex with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Sex n Mean PRC Volume SD PRC Volume
Female 55 1.44 0.27
Male 22 1.42 0.38

Means and standard deviations of the subfield are displayed by reproductive status and by sex

ANOVA results comparing PRC subfield by reproductive status was not significant.

T-test results comparing PRC subfield by sex was not significant.

Hormone Correlation by Reproductive Status

All correlations are Spearman

Hormone Correlation by Men

All correlations are Pearson except SHBG (Spearman)

Behavioral Correlations

LOOP

Position Error

All correlations were Pearson

Degrees Traveled

All correlations were Pearson

MAZE

Accuracy

All correlations were Spearman

Moves

All correlations were Spearman except for men (Pearson)

DSP

Wayfinding Success

All correlations were Pearson

Solution Index

All correlations were Spearman except for men (Pearson)

SUB

Structural Comparison

Sample size and means for subjects by reproductive status with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Reproductive Status n Mean SUB Volume SD SUB Volume
Pre 22 0.23 0.03
Peri 18 0.23 0.03
Post 15 0.23 0.04
Sample size and means for subjects by sex with T2 hipp volume and completed spatial navigation behavior
Sex n Mean SUB Volume SD SUB Volume
Female 55 0.23 0.04
Male 22 0.22 0.03

Means and standard deviations of the subfield are displayed by reproductive status and by sex

ANOVA results comparing SUB subfield by reproductive status was not significant.

T-test results comparing SUB subfield by sex was not significant.

Hormone Correlation by Reproductive Status

All correlations are Spearman.

Hormone Correlation by Men

All correlations are Pearson except SHBG (Spearman)

Behavioral Correlations

LOOP

Position Error

All correlations were Pearson

Degrees Traveled

All correlations were Pearson

MAZE

Accuracy

All correlations were Spearman

Moves

All correlations were Spearman except for men (Pearson)

DSP

Wayfinding Success

All correlations were Pearson

Solution Index

All correlations were Spearman except for men (Pearson)

Summary

Sample included HAS participants who had a T2 hipp scan and completed spatial navigation behavior.

As of 12/07/2022, it’s likely that there are 2 more subjects to be added to analysis (subjects male 412 and pre female 425) since their MRI scans were missing.

Hormones

All hormones were skewed for overall and women groups, so hormone and volume correlations were Spearman rank correlations. All correlations for men were Pearson except for those involving SHBG.

Total hipp Volume and MTL

  • Total hipp volume and MTL volumes were normally distributed. ANOVA results comparing total hipp volume and MTL by reproductive stage were not significant. T-test results comparing total hipp volume and MTL by sex were also not significant.

  • For total hipp volume, higher progesterone concentration was negatively associated with lower total hipp volumes in women (p < 0.05, Spearman) and in pres (p < 0.001, Spearman). Higher DHEAS was significantly negatively associated with total hipp volume for posts (p < 0.05, Spearman). Higher FSH was marginally positively associated with total hipp volume for peris (p = 0.069, Spearman).

  • For MTL, progesterone was marginally negatively associated with lower MTL volumes in women (p = 0.051, Spearman). Higher testosterone was marginally positively associated with MTL volume for pres (p = 0.069, Spearman).

Subfields

  • Subregion volumes for women and men were generally normally distributed, except for CA1 overall and in women, and PHC in women. ANOVA results comparing subfields by reproductive stage were all not significant. T-test results comparing subfields by sex were all not significant except for ERC (p < 0.05), with women showing greater ERC subfield volume than men.

  • For estradiol, it was significantly negatively correlated with PRC for posts (p < 0.05, Spearman). It was also marginally negatively associated with PHC for pres (p = 0.062, Spearman).

  • For progesterone, it was significantly negatively associated with SUB for pres (p < 0.05, Spearman), with PRC for posts (p < 0.05, Spearman), DG for women (p < 0.01, Spearman) and DG for pres (p < 0.01, Spearman), as well as with CA1 for pres (p < 0.05, Spearman). Progesterone was only marginally positively associated with CA1 for posts (p = 0.052, Spearman).

  • For FSH, it was significantly negatively correlated with CA1 for posts (p < 0.05, Spearman). It was significantly positively correlated with ERC for peris (p < 0.05, Spearman) and SUB for pres (p < 0.05, Spearman). FSH was marginally positively correlated with CA23 for peris (p = 0.058, Spearman) and with DG for peris (p = 0.069, Spearman) and with DG for peris (p = 0.069, Spearman).

  • For SHBG, it was significantly negatively correlated with PHC for posts (p < 0.05, Spearman), and marginally negatively correlated with SUB for pres (p = 0.068, Spearman).

  • For DHEAS, it was significantly negatively correlated with CA23 for posts (p < 0.01, Spearman) and with DG for posts (p < 0.05, Spearman).

  • For testosterone, it was significantly positively associated with PHC for peris (p < 0.05, Spearman). Testosterone was also marginally negatively correlated with CA1 for men (p = 0.066, Pearson).

Behavior

Total hipp Volume and MTL

  • LOOP greater degrees traveled was significantly negatively correlated with lower total hipp volume within overall (women and men together) (p < 0.01, Pearson) and within men (p < 0.05, Pearson).

  • DSP higher solution index was marginally negatively correlated with lower total hipp volume in men (p = 0.052, Pearson).

  • There were no significant or marginal correlations observed for MTL and navigation behaviors.

Subfields

  • LOOP larger position error was significantly negatively correlated with lower PHC volume within overall (women and men) (p < 0.05, Pearson).

  • LOOP greater degrees traveled was significantly negatively correlated with lower volumes in CA1 for overall (p < 0.05, Spearman) and for men (p = 0.05, Pearson), in CA23 for overall (p < 0.01, Pearson) and for men (p < 0.05, Pearson), in DG for overall (p < 0.05, Pearson) and for men (p < 0.05, Pearson), in ERC for peris (p < 0.05, Pearson), in PRC for peris (p < 0.05, Pearson), and in SUB for overall (p < 0.05, Pearson). Basically pattern can be seen in all subfields except for PHC.

  • There were no significant or marginal correlations observed for MAZE accuracy.

  • MAZE higher moves made was significantly positively associated with higher PHC volume in pres (p < 0.05, Spearman).

  • DSP higher wayfinding success was significantly negatively correlated lower ERC volumes in pres (p < 0.05, Pearson), but marginally with overall (p = 0.05, Spearman). It was significantly positively associated with PHC for persi (p < 0.05, Spearman) but only marginally in women (p = 0.05, Spearman).

  • DSP higher solution index was significantly positively correlated with higher volume in CA23 in peris (p < 0.05, Spearman). It was marginally negatively correlated with lower volume in DG for overall (p = 0.069, Spearman) and for men (p = 0.05, Pearson), and also in SUB for men (p = 0.063, Pear).